Feminine hygiene pad with advantageous lateral gathering features

Abstract

A feminine hygiene pad having an absorbent structure is disclosed. The absorbent structure may have a plurality of central compression zones disposed in a middle region of the pad, each of the plurality of compression zones being defined by a generally longitudinally-oriented shape having a forward terminus proximate a forward end region of the pad and a rearward terminus proximate a rearward end region of the pad, and an average width between the forward terminus and rearward terminus of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, wherein each of the forward terminus and rearward terminus lies no more than 30 percent of the length of the pad, from the lateral axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A feminine hygiene pad having a length, and comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, a forward end region, a rearward end region, a middle region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent core comprising:
 an absorbent structure having:
 a first plurality of compression zones disposed in the middle region, each of the first plurality of compression zones being defined by a generally longitudinally-oriented shape having a forward terminus proximate the forward end region and a rearward terminus proximate the rearward end region, and an average width between the forward terminus and rearward terminus of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, wherein at least two of the first plurality of compression zones have a longitudinal dimensions along a longitudinal direction that vary, wherein each of the first plurality of compression zones extend across a lateral axis of the absorbent structure, wherein one of the first plurality of compression zones extends substantially along the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the first plurality of compression zones extends from a first surface of the absorbent core adjacent to the backsheet toward a second surface of the absorbent core adjacent to the topsheet, and wherein the absorbent structure is compressed in the first plurality of compression zones. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent structure is predominantly constituted of cellulosic fibers by weight and/or by volume. 
     
     
       3. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 1  wherein the first plurality is an odd number and is substantially laterally centered about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       4. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 1  wherein the compression zones of the first plurality have dimensions along the longitudinal direction that vary. 
     
     
       5. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 1  wherein the dimension along a longitudinal direction of a laterally outwardly-disposed compression zone is less than that of a laterally more inwardly-disposed compression zone. 
     
     
       6. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 1  comprising one or two second pluralities of end region compression zones disposed in either or both of the forward end region and rearward end region, each of the plurality of end compression zones being defined by a generally longitudinally-oriented shape having an endward terminus proximate an end of the pad and an inward terminus proximate the middle region, and an average width between the end terminus and inward terminus of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. 
     
     
       7. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 6  wherein each of the inward termini of the end compression zones of one or both of the second pluralities lies longitudinally short of any of the nearest termini of the middle compression zones. 
     
     
       8. The feminine hygiene pad of either of  claim 6  wherein one or both of the second pluralities is an even number and is substantially centered about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       9. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 6  wherein one or both of the second pluralities is lower in number than the first plurality. 
     
     
       10. The feminine hygiene pad of any of  claim 6  wherein a fold interruption margin is disposed between the one or both of the second pluralities and the first plurality. 
     
     
       11. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent structure is adhered to one or both a subjacent layer and a superadjacent layer by a deposit of adhesive defining an adhesive shape along an x-y plane. 
     
     
       12. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 11  wherein the deposit of adhesive is applied in a lesser quantity per unit x-y surface area in the middle region, than in one or both of the forward and rearward end regions. 
     
     
       13. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 11  wherein the adhesive shape has a width that varies along the length of the absorbent structure. 
     
     
       14. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 13  wherein the adhesive shape has a lesser width proximate the middle region, and a greater width proximate one or both the forward end region and rearward end region. 
     
     
       15. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 11  wherein the subjacent layer is the backsheet. 
     
     
       16. The feminine hygiene pad of any of  claims 11-15  wherein the superadjacent layer is a secondary topsheet or acquisition layer. 
     
     
       17. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent structure comprises a distribution of AGM particles. 
     
     
       18. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 1  wherein the absorbent structure has a caliper no greater than 5.0 mm. 
     
     
       19. A feminine hygiene pad having a length, and comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, a forward end region, a rearward end region, a middle region, a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, the absorbent core comprising:
 an absorbent structure comprising a first plurality of compression zones and a second plurality of compression zones, wherein the absorbent structure in each of the first plurality of compression zones and the second plurality of compression zones is compressed,
 wherein the first plurality of compression zones disposed in the middle region, each of the first plurality of compression zones being defined by a generally longitudinally-oriented shape having a forward terminus proximate the forward end region and a rearward terminus proximate the rearward end region, wherein each of the first plurality of compression zones extend across a lateral axis of the absorbent structure, and wherein one of the first plurality of compression zones extends substantially along the longitudinal axis; 
 wherein the second plurality of compression zones disposed in the reward end region or the forward end region, each of the second plurality of compression zones being defined by a generally longitudinally-oriented shape having a forward terminus proximate the forward end region and a rearward terminus proximate the rearward end region,
 wherein the second plurality of compression zones is less than the first plurality of compression zones. 
 
 
 
     
     
       20. The feminine hygiene pad of  claim 19  comprising a fold interruption margin between the first plurality of compression zones and the second plurality of compression zones, wherein the fold interruption margin extends laterally in a nonlinear configuration.